999
You should only call 999 if you or someone you’re with is suffering a serious or life-threatening emergency and they need help now.
999 emergencies include, but are not limited to, someone who:
- is unconscious,
- not breathing,
- bleeding severely,
- fallen from height,
- traumatic head or other injury,
- serious burns,
- severe chest pains or
- symptoms of stroke.
Calling 999 with a speech or hearing impairment
If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech-impaired Relay UK offer help for contacting 999. A BSL interpreter service is also available. These are national services.
Relay UK
There are options for the Relay App, textphones and text messages from a mobile phone. If you might need this support please look into the details before an actual emergency. For the text messaging service you will need to register your mobile number before you can use the service. Find out more about Contacting 999 using Relay UK
British Sign Language
You can also use the 999 BSL app or Website to make a call to 999. It will connect to a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter first, who will then call 999 and relay the conversation. Find out more at: 999 BSL
When you call 999
When you call 999 in a medical emergency, ask for the ambulance service.
The first things our call takers will ask you for are
- if the patient is breathing and conscious
- your location
This allows us to immediately start the dispatch process for the most critical calls. We’ll then ask more questions about the patient, such as:
- their age, gender and medical history
- if there is any bleeding or chest pain
- details of the injury and how it happened
Don’t worry – these questions will not delay the help you need. While you’re talking to our control team, they will already be arranging appropriate help.
The questions they ask will make sure you get the most appropriate care and will help us to continue to give advice over the phone.
Help us find you
It’s a good idea to download the location-finder app What3Words. This helps us find your exact location if you don’t know the full address or are in a large open space.
Things to do before help arrives
If we do need to send an ambulance, you can help us by doing the following:
If you are in the street:
- Stay with the patient until help arrives.
- Call us back if the patient’s condition changes or your location changes.
If you are at home, work or other building:
- Ask someone to open the doors and signal where the ambulance staff are needed.
- If it’s dark outside turn on lights to help our staff find you quickly.
- Shut any pets in another room.
- If you can, write down the patient’s GP details and gather any medication that they are taking.
- Tell us if the patient has any allergies.
Stay calm – our staff are there to help. Violence or threatening behaviour aimed at them will not be tolerated and could delay help getting to the patient.